Mine car



Dec. 8, 1936. w. M. SHEEHAN I MINE CAR Filed April 27, 19-33 5Sheets-Sheet l Wye/War W/fam /W. 5/766/767/7 &4,

w. M. SHEEHAN 2,063,059

MINE CAR Filed April 27, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a {By Dec. 8, 1936. w. M.SHEEHAN 2,063,059

MINE CAR Filed Ap ril 27, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Af/orneu Dec. 8, 1936.

W. M. SHEEHAN MINE CAB Filed April 27, 19-35 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MPatented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE MINE GAR ApplicationApril 27, 1933, Serial No. 668,258

24 Claims.

This invention relates to a vehicle for use in mine, quarry and similarservice requiring transportation of rough bulk materials on trackshaving sharp curves and sharply changing grades, and

particularly, where the vehicle is tilted or inverted in unloading.

Some of the features of the present invention are illustrated andclaimed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 594,687, filedFebruary 23, 1932;

Serial No. 619,226, filed June 25, 1932, and Serial No. 622,927, filedJuly 16, 1932. The more general objects of this invention are attainedand enumerated in the above-mentioned co-pending applications, referenceto which is made in connection with the present invention.

The vehicle herein illustrated is intended primarily to be used inmining operations under con.- ditions such as exist in the anthraciteregions of Pennsylvania where, due to certain unusual de- 2 signrestrictions, the floor lines and consequently the bumpers and draftattachments of mine cars now in use are located a substantial distanceabove the axles so that the cars have high centers of gravity.

The structure of the present invention embodies the same relatively highlocation of buffer and draft elements, but the fioor is placed close tothe rail and arranged to permit dumping through an end door.

An object is to provide a car of the above type arranged for mountingupon stub axles, permitting a substantial portion of the floor to bedisposed beneath the level of the axles without the necessity ofproviding axle pockets in the fioor.

Another object is to provide a more stable mounting of the vehicle uponits axles than has been heretofore known.

Still another object is to provide structure on the undersurface of thevehicle floor for co-operating with vehicle stop or positioning means.

Other objects will be apparent from examination of the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view of a vehicle underframeillustrating the invention.

Figure. 2 is a side view of the same showing under-equipment.

Figure 3 is a detailed vertical longitudinal section taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 45 ofFigure 1.

Figures 5, 6, and 12 are vertical transverse sections taken on thecorresponding section lines of Figure 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are half end views of the underframe taken from theright and left-hand ends, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 ofFigure 11.

Figure 10 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line. Ill-l0 ofFigure 11.

Figure 11 is a side View of the underframe at one end and illustratingone of the draft hooks.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a modification.

Figure 14 is a detail vertical longitudinal section taken on the lineM-M of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a detail horizontal section taken on the correspondingsection line of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is an enlarged elevational view of the outer pedestalstructure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 17 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line I'!ll ofFigure 18 and showing the inner pedestal structure.

Figure 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on a lineextending axially of the rear stub axle, the wheel, axle and journalboxes being shown in plan.

Figure 19 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line I9l9 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 2El20 of Figure18.

Figures 21 and 22 are views corresponding to Figures 13 and 19,respectively, and illustrating another modification.

Figure 23 is a detail section taken on the line 2323 of Figure 21.

Figure 24. is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 24-24 ofFigure 1.

Figure 25 is a horizontal section taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 24and shows a plan View of one of the inner pedestal legs.

Figure 26 is a top View of another form of the invention.

Figure 2'7 is a side view of the same.

Figure 28 is a partial longitudinal vertical section taken on the line28-28 of Figure 26.

Figure 29 is a half elevation showing the left end of the structure inFigure 26.

Figure 30 is a half elevation showing the right end of Figure 26.

Figure 31 is a vertical transverse section taken on the correspondingsection line of Figure 26.

The entire vehicle underframe is preferably formed of an integralcasting including, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, 16 to 20, and 24and 25, a continuous seamless floor, with side portions I extendingsubstantially horizontally above the forward and rear wheels 2 and 3, anintermediate portion 4 disposed entirely beneath the level of stub axles5 of the rear wheels 3, and an inclined portion 6 extending continuouslyupwardly from a line between the pairs of wheels 2 and 3 to the uppersurface of the forward end sill 1. At the rear end, the flooring extendssharply upwardly at 8 and merges with the upper surface of the end sillS, the sill including a vertical wall portion 9a depending to the levelof flooring portion 4 and connected therewith by horizontal perforatedweb section I. The rear extremity of portion 4 slopes slightly upwardlyand rearwardly as at l2, to clear the roadbed when the vehicle movesonto a sharp upward grade. While the ends of the car are convenientlydescribed, respectively, as forward and rear, it will be understood thatthe vehicle may be operated in either direction.

Projecting longitudinally of the end sills 1 and 9 are vertically spacedhorizontal flanges 3 and 4 mounting buffer devices l5 and central drafthooks I6. Any other suitable buffer or draft mechanism may be provided,if desired, The buffer flanges extend to the sides of the underframe andat the outer extremities are braced by vertical webs |3a and l3b,forming jacking projections to facilitate replacing the car on thetracks as after a derailment.

Extending around three sides of the underframe above the end sill 9 andelevated side portions of the flooring are vertical flanges l1 and I8for mounting superstructure side walls l9 and end wall 26. At the end ofthe car opposite wall 28, the body is open and a swinging dumping door(not shown) will preferably be provided.

Between the elevated side portions and the intermediate portions 4 and6, the flooring is inclined generally downwardly and inwardly, as at 2|.The side edges of flooring 6 diverge forwardly as indicated at 22, dueto the intersection of the upwardly inclined floor web with the upwardlyand outwardly inclined side webs 22. This divergence facilitatesdumping. Extending longitudinally along the lower surface of inclinedportion 6 are braces 23, preferably of box section, and a centralinverted T-shaped rib 24 reinforcing the floor and forward end sillFlooring portion 8 and web 9a at the rear end are braced by a centralflanged web 1|.

Each pair of buffer flanges |3 and I4 is braced by short vertical ribsI0 extending between the same, and the buffer caps l5 are recessed, asat 25, to clear these ribs. These flanges are further reinforced bydiagonal ribs |4a alined with vertical parts of the floor and flangedcorner webs |4b extending inwardly of the end sills in line with webs|3b reinforcing the jacking projections.

Depending from the side edges of the underframe are the outer pedestals26 and 21, having pedestal jaws 26a and 21a and spring seatingprojections 28 on the undersurface of the top bars 29. Bars 30 aresecured to these pedestal jaws beneath the journal boxes 3| and serve aspedestal binders and to prevent disengagement of the outer boxes andpedestals when the vehicle is tilted in dumping. The outer pedestals arebraced by inner ribs 32 and 33 and outer ribs 32a and 33a.

Projecting from the inwardly and downwardly inclined portions 2| of theflooring are inner pedestals 34 and 35 having pedestal jaws 34a and 35a,respectively, for the stub axles (see Figure 17). The rear pedestals 35are braced by ribs 31 and 31a and horizontal webs 36 and 36a. Forwardinner pedestals 34 are braced by similar ribs 54 and 54a and u per andlower horizontal webs 68 and 68a. Ribs 31a and 54a are themselves bracedby vertical longitudinally extending ribs 31b and 54b.

The upper webs 36 and 68 extend at both sides of the inner pedestals toform spring seats 36b and 68b, the construction, in this respect, of therear inner pedestal 35 being illustrated in Figures 17 to 20 and 24 and25. Each inner journal box 38 has laterally projecting cup-like elements39 forming spring seats for receiving the coil springs40 supporting thepedestals from the boxes. It will be seen that the box spring seats 39extend beneath portions of the pedestal jaws so that these jaws must beshortened to permit lrelative vertical movement of the boxes andpedestals under the spring action.

The outer coil springs 4| (Figure 16) are mounted on top of thecorresponding journal boxes 3| and. are seated against the undersurfaceof the top crossbars 29 of the pedestals. The arrangement of the innerand outer springs 48 and 4| provides, in effect, three point mounting ofthe body upon the supporting axles, which produces greater stabilitythan is the case where all springs are carried on top of the journalboxes.

The forward inner pedestals 34 depend beneath the inclined intermediateportion 6 of the floor, and are braced transversely by means of abeamlike bracket 42 on the under-surface oi the inclined part of thefloor (Figures 1 and 4). The bracket 42 is braced on one side by adiagonal flanged rib 43, and on the other side is recessed, as at 42a,and serves as a body abutment for a stop device such as is commonly usedto position the vehicle upon an elevator and also to maintain the carimmobile during loading. Webs 69 depending from the edges of portion 6of the flooring merge with the ends of bracket 42 and form backings forpedestals 34. In alinement with ribs 54 and extending inwardly of webs69 a short distance are webs 69a which are connected to bracket 42 byhorizontal web sections 1|] (Figure 4).

Flanged corner webs |4b are depressed inwardly of the wall mounting websI1 and are formed integral with book elements 45 for attachment ofchains, cables, or ropes in pulling the car in a train. The structure ofthese hook elements is shown in greater detail in Figures 9, 10, and 11,from which it will be seen that the hooks project sidewardly of thevehicle body a substantially less distance than would be the case ifthey were secured to the outside of the body in the usual manner andthey are in substantial alinement with the side posts S.

The vehicle wheels are preferably of the anti- I friction bearing type,and a nut 46 and washer 46a are provided on the inner extremity of eachstub axle 5 for adjusting the bearings (Figure 5). A sleeve 41 extendsfrom the washer 46a through the inner journal box to the wheel hub.

In Figure 13 is shown a part of a mine car underframe arranged foroperation on tracks of narrower gauge than that in the preceding figureswith minimum decrease in loading capacity. The inclined portion 48 ofthe flooring is provided with a pocket 49 for accommodating theadjusting nut 50. The details of the wheel mounting, including theadjusting nut 58 and sleeve 5|, are the same as in the previous figures.

With reference to Figures 17 to 20 in particular, it will be seen thatthe extension of the inner journal box 38 beneath the lower extremity ofthe pedestal jaws prevents the use of the usual tie bar connecting thejaws. For preventing excessive relative vertical movement anddisengagement of the pedestal and journal box, each inner box springseat 39 (Figures 18, 19, and 20) is provided with a lug 52 and a boltelement 53 with a portion 53a extending between the adjacent pedestalbracing ribs 35 and 36a. Thus, when the vehicle is inverted in dumping,bolt 53w will engage rib 36a. The bolt 53 is manually removable topermit disassembly of the framing from the wheels and axles for makingrepairs.

If desired, the stop arrangement on the inner journal boxes andpedestals may be reversed, as in Figures 21 to 23, in which each journalbox spring seat 55 is provided with a flange 56 below which extends theenlarged head portion of bolt element 58 secured in a web 59, formingpart of the pedestal jaw 60, projecting from the flooring 61. I

The vehicle is provided with suitable brakes (see Figures 1 and 2)including links 6| operated by means of shaft 52 mounted in brackets 63,depending from the undersurface of the flooring and extending throughopenings 68 in the end sill, and a handle 64. A similar brakingarrangement is illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No.619,226, mentioned above. Other braking equipment may be used if desiredand other suitable auxiliary equipment provided.

In the modification in Figures 26 to 31, the underframe is, in general,similar to that in the first form described but is arranged for athrough forward axle 10, extending beneath the inclined portion H of theflooring, instead of the forward stub axles of the previous forms. Theouter forward pedestals are eliminated, the axle 13 with its journal box(not shown) being mounted between jaws l2a of inside pedestals l2. Thesepedestal jaws are braced on the outside by depending ribs 13 and M andhorizontal webs l5 and 15, the former having spring seating projectionsl1, and on the inside by vertical ribs [3 and H3 alined with the lowerportions of ribs 73 and M, respectively, and horizontal webs alined withoutside horizontal webs 16. Vertical webs 81 depending from the edges ofthe inclined flooring H extend longitudinally from the pedestal aws.

The function of the stop bracket 42 shown in the previous forms isserved by the axle l0 and this bracket is omitted. The buffer flanges B2are extended to the sides of the underframe and at the extremitiessuitably braced by web sections 83 and 84 to constitute jackingprojections.

The utilization of the above described features provides a largeincrease in capacity over cars new in use, and lowers the center ofgravity which insures greater stability while in transit and permitscoupling and operation with existing high center of gravity equipment.The car bottom is so constructed as to constitute a unitary andhomogeneous beam structure in lateral, longitudinal and vertical planes.

The invention is not limited to the exact de tails of the embodimentsshown, and these may be varied as will occur to those skilled in the artto which the invention pertains, and exclusive use of all suchmodifications as come within the scope of the appended claims iscontemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle of the class described, flooring including an upwardlydisposed portion and a rigid beam-like member extending from side toside of said portion and reinforcing the same and serving as an abutmentfor co-operating with a vehicle stop or positioning device.

2. In a vehicle of the class described, upwardly and outwardly extendingflooring including laterally spaced parts at different levels, a wheeland an axle, and pedestals projecting from said parts and having springseats disalined longitudinally and transversely of the vehicle andforming a three-point support for the flooring adjacent each wheel.

3. In a vehicle of the class described, a supporting wheel and axle,underframing including a pedestal disposed at each side of said wheel,the inner of said pedestals having a frame supporting element at a lowerlevel than the corresponding element of the other pedestal, and saidflooring sloping downwardly and inwardly over said inner pedestal.

4. In a vehicle of the class described, supporting wheels and stubaxles, flooring with side parts above said wheels, an intermediate partbeneath the level of said axles, and downwardly and inwardly slopingportions between said side and intermediate parts pedestals dependingfrom said side parts outside said wheels, and other pedestals on saidsloping portions inside said wheels.

5. In a vehicle of the class described, wheels and axles, underframing,pedestals depending from said underframing at each side of each of saidwheels, journal boxes in said pedestals, and springs supporting saidpedestals from said boxes, the outer of said boxes having spring seatson their tops and the inner of said boxes having spring seats beneaththeir top portions.

6. In a vehicle of the class described, supporting wheels and axles,flooring, pedestals with spring seats at the sides of each of saidwheels, the inner of said seats being lower than the outer and saidflooring sloping downwardly and inwardly over said inner seats, journalboxes carried on said axles in said pedestals, the outer boxes havingspring seats on their tops and the inner boxes having spring seatsprojecting laterally therefrom a substantial distance beneath the topsthereof, and supporting springs between the respective pedestal andjournal box seats.

'7. In a vehicle of the class described, a supporting wheel and stubaxle, a pedestal on each side of said wheel, and journal boxes in saidpedestals and mounted on said axle, the outer box having a seat on topfor a body supporting spring and the inner box having spring seatsprojecting laterally from the lower portion thereof, providing a threepoint support for the vehicle body.

8. In a vehicle of the class described, load supporting wheels and stubaxles, anti-friction bearings in said wheels, bearing adjusting deviceson said axles inside said wheels, and flooring with side parts abovesaid wheels, a lower intermediate part and downwardly disposed portionsbetween said side and intermediate parts and recessed to clear saidadjusting devices.

9. In a vehicle of the class described, flooring, pedestal structureincluding a pair of vertically spaced bracing ribs, one of said ribsconstituting a spring seat, a journal box in said pedestal, and anelement on said journal box projecting between said pair of ribs forlimiting relative vertical movement of said pedestal and said box.

10. In a vehicle of the class described, a pedestal including laterallyprojecting spring seating means, a journal box in said pedestal havingspring seating means beneath said pedestal means, and an abutment onsaid pedestal beneath said pedestal seating means, said box seatingmeans having an element co-operating with said abutment to limitrelative vertical movement of said box and pedestal.

11. In a vehicle of the class described, flooring, supporting wheels,pedestals on said flooring at each side of said wheels, journal boxes insaid pedestals, and means limiting the relative vertical movement ofsaid flooring and said boxes comprising members connecting the lowerportions of the jaws of certain of said pedestals and exwalls.

14. In a vehicle of the class described, end structure includingvertically spaced walls, a bracing rib between said walls, and a buffercap extending between said walls and recessed to clear said rib.

15. In a vehicle of the class described, an integral underframestructure including flooring having offset bracing portions, an endmember with vertically spaced walls for receiving a buffer, and a ribbracing one of said walls and in alinement with said portions.

16. In a vehicle of the class described, axles, an end sill, and buffermounting flanges projecting from said end sill, said flanges extendingbeyond their buffer mounting parts to form rigid structure with adownwardly facing jack seating surface.

1'7. In a vehicle of the class described, an end sill with elements formounting a yielding buffer device, and jacking projections on said endsill and said elements, said projections having downwardly facingsurfaces arranged for stably seating jacking means.

18. In a vehicle of the class described, axles, flooring beneath thelevel of said axles and buifer mounting elements above the level of saidaxles, portions of said elements constituting jacking projections, andhaving a downwardly facing surface arranged for stably seating jackingmeans.

19. In a vehicle of the class described, a rigid floor forming web, awheel and an axle, and spring structure providing a three-point supportfor said web over said axle at opposite sides of and adjacent to saidwheel.

20. In a vehicle of the class described, a rigid floor forming web, awheel and an individual stub axle, and spring structure providingsupport for said web at points spaced transversely of said axle at oneend thereof and over the axis of said axle at the other end thereof.

21. In a vehicle of the class described, a side wall having restrictedend portions offset inwardly from the major portion of the wall, anddraft elements exterior of said wall adjacent to said offset portions.

22. In a vehicle of the class described, a side wall, posts on theexterior thereof, and draft elements at the end of said wall insubstantial alinernent with said posts, the adjacent portions of saidwall being offset inwardly to accommodate said draft elements.

23. In a vehicle of the class described, underframing including anoutwardly and upwardly extending floor forming web at the side of thevehicle having members spaced transversely of the vehicle and eachmember including downwardly facing structure for seating springssupporting the underframing from the vehicle axle, said structure in onemember being at a different level and at a different distance from thevertical plane of the axle axis than said structure in the other member.

24. In a vehicle of the class described, underframing including a floorside portion extending upwardly and outwardly at the side of thevehicle, an axle and wheel, a pair of downwardly facing spring seatslocated at one level at one side of said wheel and a single downwardlyfacing spring seat located at another level at the other side of saidwheel.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN.

